Art glass and method of making the same.



l S XR 952.527'

w. Jonson.

HT GLASS AED HETHOD 0I' MAXIM TRI: SAME. nrnurnol rm nv. u. 1m.

Patented Mafl 22,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- Inventor: w

Arti.

Patented Ma. 22, 1910.

l SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W JOHNSON Axjr Guss Nn METHOD cr um@ m snm. APPLIGATIOI FILED Fa? I4 1001 wirf/Essfs.-

'WALTER JOHNSGN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

.ART GLASS AND METHOD 0F MAKING THE SAME.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mal'. 22, 1910.

Application filed November 14, 1907. Serial N0. 402.122.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Bc it known that I, lauren JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Brooklyn. in the county of Kings and State of New Yorl have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Art Glass and Methods of Making the Same. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to methods of making glass articles and the product thereof, and more particularly to the manufacture of art glass; and the object is to enable a form of art glass, far superior to the form known as leaded glass, to be produced l with comparative ease and cheapuess. More particularly. the object is to produce art glass objects in a much more simple manner than heretofore. these objects being particularly applicable as elements of composite art glass designs.

lVith reference to the well-known leaded glass. made by building up pieces or fragments of glass and connecting them by solder, several drawbacks may be noted. In the first place. the leading is clumsy, the method of manufacture necessitating that the edges of the glass fragments be bound with metal. the surface flanges of which are then traced with a soldering iron. More. important. the several elements of the completed article are merely cut from fiat sheets of glass of' appropriate colors, and these, when united by the prominent leading. constitute an absolutely fiat design, with little opportunity to suggest persiectire. and with no attempt at surface modelingr in simulation of the objects represented. In fine. the mode of manufacturing leaded glass has never permitted the production of relief designs. A further. and very practical defect of thisform of glass is. of course. its fragility. the only remedies for this defect being to make the leading very heavy and to employ unsightly reinforcing devices.

In the field of marmfacture. the diti'icul ties encountered are serious, the time required long. the waste heavy. and the consequent expense. large. The several pieces of glass must be cut from larger sheets or panes. and it is a ditlicnlt mattei' to cnt accurately a fragment of irregular desio'n. Frequently many pieces must be cut. and discarded before one of proper shape for the particular purpose is had. Again. there is the ditliculty of securing proper colors. If a picco of glass of a certain shade be required to give the proper color ell'ect at a certain point in the design. it is frequently necessary to cut into many sheets of ditl'ereut shades, before a piece is secured giving the proper color effect by transmitted light. Finally. it is a matter of obvious difficulty to build up a comparatively large article from small bits of glass. and the operation of leading is necessarily slow and laborious.

l make the radical departure of discarding the system of building up from small fragments, and substitute a method in which openings of the proper form and size are made 1u a one-piece ground of glass, and the elements of the design are inserted in these openings. Further, the glass inserts, constituting the elements of the design, are not cut from flat sheets of glass, but are modeled from hot. plastic glass. in imitation of the objects represented, so .that a design in relief is obtained. This form of art glass lends itself particularly to floral and similar effects, it being possible to reproduce the several plantstructures with striking fidelity.

as to general form, surface modeling, and

color. By modeling the inserts from hot, plastic glass, I am not limited to the range of colors in a stock of sheets of glass, but. may obtain any desired shade by blending different color glasses while hot and plastic. Further, since the One-piece ground gives the requisite strength to the completed article. the leading between the inserts and the ground may be very fine. Of course. I do not limit myself to the use of but one piece of glass for the entire body of the completed article; and it will he understood that the expression one-piece is to be interpreted as referring to a unit of structure.

In carrying ont my invention, I take a hody or sheet of glass. either flat or curved, and preferably by chemical means form openings ofthe desired outline therein. The chemical agency may be hydrofiuoric acid, or other suitable reagent. The ground is first covered with a resisting substance, as waxy material. with the exception of the regions which it is desired to eat out. and the chemical then applied. By this means, I am enabled to form the apertures with great certainty and exactitude. Preferably, the chemical is allowed to eat half-way through from one side, a fier which the opening is completed by allowing the chemical to attack the reverse side in the same manner. The result is that the margins of the openings are undercut from both sides, the acid having a tendency to increase its arca of operation as it. eats inward, This method of formation is of great advantage, as it renders the operation of securing the inserts in position much simpler and more ecctive.

In securing the inserts in position in the openings, I first pack or plug metal foil, as copper foil, around the edges of the inserts. thus providing what may be termed a filler. The surface of this liller is then treated with a suitable flux, and a soldering iron is then run along the line of the filler. The solder which is deposited in this operation permeates through the porous packed filler, producing what is practically an alloy and resulting in a solid structure. Leading etlected in this manner may be very delicate and unobtrusive, so that it may emphasize, without marring, the design.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the band-like forms used in making the elements of the composite glass Sheet; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. showing the form resting on the body of plastic glass, prior to heilig forced down therein; Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the form inserted in the body of glass; I` ig. 4 is a similar view illustrating how the upper surface of the plastic element may be modeled with suitable tools; F ig. 5 is a similar view showing the form and contents reversed upon the supporting surface and an elevation being formed in the plastic elementby pressure from the rear; Fig. 6 is a perspective view, showing the modeling completed but the article still within the form; Fig. 7 is a perspective view like the last. but showing the form partially removed; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the glass ground provided with openin'rs for the reception of the modeled inserts; Fig. t) is a vertical sectional view illustrating` how the inserts are secured in the openings; I1` ig. 10 is a plan view of a completed composite sheet displaying a floral design formed by the inserts; and Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the same;

The first step in the manufacture of the glass inserts is to heat a comparatively thin body of glass to plasticity, l indicating the body of glass, and '2 any suitable surface upon which it may restwhile. heilig heated and manipulated. The glass body so heated may be merely a portion of a sheet of colored glass. This is the case when the completed article is to be of but one color. Or the body may comprise several small pieces of glass of different colors, placed side by side and heated until they are welded together. If a. particular shade is desired, it maybe produced by heating two pieces of glass of proper color, and blending them together while plastic. to form a new color. The beating during these operations, and subseing the inserts is the utilization of forms for the retention of the glass being worked, and subsetptently, while cooling. One of these forms is illustrated in Fig. 1, and is desig nated by the numeral 3.

' 'hile it will be obvious that the forms may be made in a variety of ways, I prefer to construct them of single strips or bands of comparatively thin metal, copper heilig suitable, which are bent to present the outline of the objectwhich it is desired to pro duce. For example, the form shown in the drawing has a leaf-outline. The two ends of the strip are brought substantially into contact, with each other, but are not permanently connected, leaving an open joint 4. T his split structure is of great value with reference to the removal of the forms from the com )leted articles inclosed therein; but it is obvious that the forms may be rendered separable in many ways; nor do I limit myself even to a form which may be opened.

The forms are preferably made from narrow strips of metal, the thickness of the frlass body largely detern'iining the depth oiE the form. I find that it is very satisfactory to make the form of a depth approximately twice the thickness of the glass body,-for example, if the glass be an eighth ofan inch in thickness, the form may be a quarter of an inch deep. But it will be obvious that the matter of proportions is not material.

The form may be applied by shaping the plastic body of glass roughly to the outline desired, after which the form may be placed around it. However, the most advantageous and expeditious manner is to force the form down into the body of glass, as indicated in F ig. 3. In either case the internal contour of the form defines the peripheral outline of the modeled element and contines the plastic glass during the modeling operation.

I would call attention to the fact that the best results are obtained by heating the body of glass and the form simultaneously, the vtoi-in being allowed to rest on top of the body while the latter is being heated to plasticity, as indicated in Fig. i. way, the glass and the form are brought to substantially the same temperature. The glass is by no means brought to a state of fusion: and the form should be forced in when the glass still exerts a ctmsiderable resistance to its entry.

In order to prevent the glass adhering to the form, the latter should previously be coated with a substance opposite in nature to that of a flux. A graphite paste serves the purpose very well.

It is to he noted that the form is not In this y forced entirely through the glass, which would cut out the inclosed portion entirelv; y

but there is left a thin film 5 between the lower edge of the form vand the supporting surface. As a matter of fact, it would be very difficult to overcome the resistance of this film by pressure on the form; but its presence is a distinct advantage, as when the completed article is taken from the form, the port ion of the film which is carried with it forms a. slight iiange which is useful in anchoring the insert m sition in the opening in the glass groundl.)0

The port-ion of the plastic glass body which is isolated within the form 1s modeled, while the glass is still plastic, with suitable tools, in imitation of the object to be represented. Convexity is secured by pressure from the rear and suitable surface working, the veining of leaves, and the like, is reproduced in the plastic material with proper tools, and, in general, any desired surface modeling may be secured. Since the form projects above the surface of the glass body, the whole may be turned over upon the supporting surface, to permit. manipulation of the rear or under surface, without disturbing the modeling of the upper surface, which is now brought next to the supporting plane, but spaced therefrom. Of course, it will be obvious that the portion of the glass body within the form may be punctured, if desired, and a piece of glass or othr objectinserted in the opening thus me e.

After the working and modeling of the contents of the form is completed, the whole allowed to cool in the open atmosphere; and here occurs a notable phenomenon: while the portion of the glass outside the form cracks and breaks in cooling, as would naturally be expected, the incloscd portion remains intact, and within a few minutes may be thrust into water without injury. This result I ascribe to the influence of the retaining band or form. After the glass is cool, I .separate the modeled object within the form from the body of the glass b v breaking the thin film 5 and removing the content of the form. This removal is facilitated b v the split in the form, since the latter may be peeled, as it were, from the modelcd insert, as indicated in Fig.

The glass object so produced will be f ound to possess surface discoloration, due to the glass having been heated and worked in the air and in contact with flame. I have discovered that the color of the glass may be restored by treating it with a chemical agent, such as hydrofluoric acid, which eats awa .v a very thin layer of the surface, bringing the untouched interior color to view.

While I have described this method of making glass objects more particularly with reference to composite art glass, it will be obvious that it may be employed in the production oflass objects for other pur oses. The essence of the invention is the m cling of hot plastic glass while iuclosed iu a form, so that it may not lose its outline; and the discoveries involved are first. that glass may be worked in this manner in the open air and allowed to cool, also in the open air, without fear of breaking, and second, that the colors apparently lost in the operation may be rcstored by chemically removing the surface layer of glass. Of course, the skin which is removed in this way is so extremely thin that even the most delicate modeling is not affected.

I wish to call attention to the fact, that, while I have constantly referred to glass, this is to be understood as a generic term, as I frequently find it advantageous to make use of enamels, particularly in adding a patch of color to an insert while being modeled in its form. These enamels are merely a special form of glass, containing varying per cents. of metallic oxids.

Throughout the specification and in the claims it must be understood that I use the verb model and its several parts in thc special sense which it imports in connection with the `fine arts, namely the manipulation of plastic material for the production of preconceived artistic configuration. It will be obvious that casting or molding glass, blowing glass, and the like, have nothing whatever to do with modeling.

In Fig. S is shown the glass ground (i, provided with suitable openings for the reception of the glass inserts S. These openinfrs are formed preferably by eating with acid, first from one side and then from the other, thus producing openings formed complctely through the ground and undercut from both sides. The nature of tac openings is shown particularly in Fig. 9. This enlargement of the diameter of theopenings intermediate the surfaces of the glass ground enables the inserts to be secured in place more firmly than would otherwise be possible. As already indicated, the action of the acid is convenicntlj,T controlled by covering such portions of the glass surface as it isnot desired to etch with a waxy resist that will not be attacked by the acid.

F ig. l) shows how the inserts are secured in the openings. First, metal foil, as copper foil, is packed or tamped between the margins of the insertand of the opening. This of itself can afford a substantial anchorage for the inserts; but the best results are obtained by applying solder over the packed foil 9 by means of a soldering iron. the foil being first treated with a suitable linx. The solder or lead penetrates into the comparativel \r porous filler formed by the packed foil, and forms practically an alloy therewith. This new form of leading is peculiarly effective, both mechanically and artistically. v

It will he understood that the tools indicated in Fics. 4, 5 and 9 may be of any suitable kin and that their particular' form will vary according to the nature of the particular operation to be performed.

What l claim as new is:

1. The method of making modeled glass elements of composite art glass sheets, which consists in heating a suitable portion of glass to plasticity, defining the peripheral outline of the element and confining the plastic glass by inclosin the same in a form the internal contour o which corresponds to the desired peripheral outline of the coinleted'element, and then modelin the somcloscd plastic glass to the desire surface configuration.

2. The method of making modeled dass elements of composite art glass sheets, iliich consists in heating a suitable portion of glass to plasticity, defining the peripheral outline of the element and confining the plastic glass by inclosing it ina form the internal contour of which corresponds to the desired peripheral outline of the completed element, then modeling the so-inclosed plastic glass to the desired surface configuration, and then allowing the inodcled element to cool within its form, Wherehy fracture is avoided.

3. The method of making modeled lass elements of composite art glass sheets, wliich consists in heating a suitable portion of glass to plasticity, defining the peripheral outline of the element and confining the plastic glass by inclosing the same in a folm open at top and bottom and having an internal contour corresponding to the desired peripheral outline of the completed clement, and then modeling the so-inclosed plastic body from both sides to secure the desired surface configuration.

4. The method of making modeled glass elements of composite art glass sheets, which consists in heating a suitable portion of glass to plasticity, defining the peripheral outline of the element and confining the plastic glass by inclosing it on a suitable supporting surface in a form open at top and bottom, deeper than the thickness of the glam, and having an internal contour corres nding to the desired peripheral outline o the completed element, then modeling the so-inclosed plastic glass from one side, and then reversing the form and contents on the supporting surface and modeling from the other side.

5. The method of making modeled glass elements of composite art glass sheets, which consists in heating a suitable portion of glass to plasticity, defining the peripheral outline of the e ement and confining the plastic glass by inclosing the same in a band-like form of metal the internal contour of which corresponds to the desired peripheral outhne of the completed element, and then modeling the so-inclosed plastic glass to the desired surface confi uration.

6. The method of making mo eled 'lass element-s of composite art glass sheets, w lich consists in heating a suitable portion of glass to plasticity, defining the peripheral outline of the element and confining the plastic glass by inclosing the same in a split band-like form the internal contour of which corresponds to the desired peripheral outline of the completed element, then modeling the so-iuclosed plastic body of glass to the desired surface configuration, next allowing the modeled element to cool within the form, thus avoiding fracture, and finally stripping the. form from the modeled element.

7. The method of making modeled Glass elements of composite art glass sheets, W'liich consists in heating a suitable portion of glass to plasticity, defining the peripheral outline of the element and confining the plastic glass by inclosing the same in a form the internal contour of which corresponds to the desired peripheral outline of the comileted element. said form having been coated internally with material to prevent fusion with the glass, then modeling the so-inclosed plastic glass to the desired surface configuration, allowing the modeled element to cool Within the form, thus avoiding fracture, and finally removing the form from the modeled element.

8. The method of making modeled glass elements of composite art glass sheets, which consists in heating a comparatii-ely thin body of glass to plasticity upon a suitable supporting surface. forcing downward therein and substantially therethrough a form the internal contour of which correspondsto the desired peripheral outline of the completed element, and modeling the soinclosed plastic glass to the desired surface configuration.

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9. The method of making modeled glass elements of composite art glass sheets, which consists in heating simultaneously upon a suitable supporting surface a comparatively thin body of glass and a form placed thereon and having an internal contour corresponding to the desired peripheral outline of the completed element, when the glass has become plastic forcing said form down into the glass, and modehng the so-inclosed plastic glass to the desired surface configuration.

10. The method of making modeled glass elements of composite art glass sheets, which consists in heating a comparatively thin body of glass to plasticity upon a suitable supporting surface, forcing downward therein and almost entirely therethronvh n form of an internal contour corresponding to the desired peripheral outline of the completed element, modeling the soinclosed plastic portion to the desired surface configuration, allowing the whole to cool, breaking away the film of glass connecting the portions within and without the form, and removing the form from the inclosed portion.

11. The method of making modeled glass elements of composite nrt glass sheets, which consists in inclosing a hot, plastic body of glass within n form the internal contour of which corresponds to the desired periphcnl outline of the completed element, inodeling the so-inclosed plastic body of glass in the open nir to the desired surface configuration, allowing the glass to cool, and treating the surface of the modeled element with n chemical agency to remove surface discolovation.

l. The method of making the herein described new form of composite art glass, which consists in making openings throufh n glass ground in accordance with a pre eter-mined ornamental design, making and modeling from hot, plastic glass inserts imitating in color, ripheral outline and raised and depresse( surface configuration the objects represented by the elements of' TALTER JOHNSON.

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